Novo Nordisk is pushing forward with a new late-stage clinical study testing smaller doses of its oral semaglutide obesity treatment, known as the Wegovy pill.
The OASIS 5 trial launched just eight months after Novo introduced the oral version of semaglutide, marking a swift move to broaden treatment options for patients.
The placebo-controlled study is currently underway across the United States and Europe, though Novo has not publicly disclosed the specific dose strengths being evaluated.
The currently approved Wegovy pill follows a titration schedule starting at 1.5 mg, rising through 4 mg and 9 mg increments before reaching a maximum maintenance dose of 25 mg.
“OASIS 5 is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lower maintenance doses of the Wegovy pill in adults with overweight or obesity,” Novo said in a statement.
The trial will enrol 450 patients who will receive treatment over a period of 60 weeks, with eligibility based on body mass index thresholds and related health conditions.
Adults with a BMI of 30 or more qualify, as do those with a BMI of 27 or more if they have a weight-related condition such as hypertension, sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease.
The primary objective of the study is to investigate weight loss outcomes, while secondary measures include blood pressure, cholesterol levels, waist circumference, and treatment side effects.
“Having a broader range of maintenance doses could provide greater flexibility in treatment and optimizing the patient experience,” Novo added in its statement to Fierce.
The company said the study forms part of its broader effort to build clinical evidence supporting appropriate treatment options for people living with obesity worldwide.
Sales of the Wegovy pill reached 3.22 billion Danish kroner, equivalent to approximately $497 million, in the second quarter, demonstrating strong commercial momentum for the oral GLP-1 drug.
By comparison, Eli Lilly’s (LLY) GLP-1 pill Foundayo, launched in early April, recorded sales of $98 million in the most recently reported quarter, well behind Novo’s oral offering.
Since GLP-1 weight-loss medicines entered the market, some patients have been independently using smaller microdoses to manage the high costs or side effects associated with these treatments.
This practice has frequently been linked to the use of compounded drug products, a battleground that both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have contested fiercely over recent years.
The OASIS 5 trial reflects growing competitive pressure in the obesity drug market, where manufacturers are increasingly differentiating their products on the magnitude and quality of weight loss delivered.